Details
Oryx gazella
A large oryx of southern African drylands, with striking black-and-white face markings and long straight horns. It is highly adapted to arid country.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Gemsbok inhabit desert, semi-desert, dry savanna, and open grassland, especially around the Kalahari. They can range far from permanent water.
They have a gray-tan body, bold facial markings, dark leg stripes, and long spear-like horns in both sexes. Horns are also used defensively.
Group size varies from small parties to larger herds. They often avoid the hottest hours and rest in shade or exposed breezy sites.
They eat grasses, tubers, bulbs, and succulent plants. Moisture from food helps them survive long periods without free water.
Breeding can occur when conditions are favorable. Females bear a single calf that hides initially before following the herd.
Physiological heat tolerance helps reduce water loss, making gemsbok one of the best-known desert-adapted antelopes.
